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Even though he was part of the evil empire across the Bay, the entire Bay Area sports community had to be saddened by the passing of former Raider Jack “The Assassin” Tatum. Unfortunately, Tatum will be known most for the lick that paralyzed Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley in a preseason game than anything else in his Pro Bowl career.

In a story today written by the esteemed Vic Tafur, it was suggested by a good friend of Tatum’s that Tatum was plagued by the hit. Tatum and Stingley, who died three years ago, never communicated about the situation. Stingley, rightly so, was miffed that Tatum used the circumstance to promote an autobiography.

Nevertheless, most of Tatum’s hits were clean and vicious. Tatum’s talent, unlike his more notorious safety mate, George Atkinson, landed him in the Pro Bowl for three straight years. Atkinson never went to a Pro Bowl, but he tried to keep up with Tatum by cuffing players around after the whistle or away from the ball. Atkinson infamously belted Steeler receiver Lynn Swann with a forearm while running back Franco Harris thundered past him. Atkinson’s only mission in that preseason game was to deck Swann and send a message rather than tackle the 230-pound Harris.

If only Jerry Rice could still play.

Former Raiders coach John Madden tells the story of calling a timeout to get Atkinson and Tatum to communicate with each other. Tatum apparently refused to talk to Atkinson after he set him up with a less than attractive woman. Madden now laughs about the situation.

Who’s going to be laughing in Cincinnati this year? Speaking of notorious, Terrell Owens, the former 49er, is now a Bengal and has united with his friend, Ocho Cinco. The two apparently tweeted the good fortune to each other, and through that communication, Owens has already staked his claim as the primary prima donna. Owens called himself “Ocho Uno” in the tweet and said he was the “Batman” to Ocho Cinco’s “Robin.”

Owens might be all the more difficult as he ages. He may begin to blame his declining skills on the coach, the quarterback, Cinco, anywhere but the recognition of his own inevitable aging. Nevertheless, Owens’s aging, and Ocho Cinco’s bombasts might be the least of headaches for Marvin Lewis. The one to really watch out for is another former 49er, Antonio Bryant, who might have more issues than Owens and Ocho Cinco combined.

That brings us to the 49ers own receiver situation, mild as it may be by comparison. In fact since Owens departure in 2003, the 49ers’ receiving corps has been mild indeed, with only two receivers, Isaac Bruce in 2008 and Brandon Lloyd in 2004, leading the team in catches during that time. No 49er wideout has since come close to be among conference leaders. And does anyone expect that to happen in 2010?

We know the 49ers want to run and we know of Vernon Davis’s breakout season last year and of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s preoccupation with tight ends. If the 49ers are going to have a receiver lead the receiving game, it will be due to the nascent chemistry between Michael Crabtree and quarterback Alex Smith. The pair have worked on routes throughout the off-season.

The receivers as a group will have to make a statement in training camp and in exhibitions if they hope to get their numbers called during the season. It means that receivers Josh Morgan, Brandon Jones, Ted Ginn Jr, and others won’t be competing with themselves so much for catches but rather with tight end Delanie Walker and partially with Davis.

The most intriguing member of the group is Ginn, the former first-round speed-burner who flamed out in Miami. If Ginn can earn his way onto the field as a third receiver on passing downs a new world might open to Smith underneath. If Ginn can prove worthy, defenses will have to devote a safety over the top to him or fear giving up a touchdown. Given Ginn’s ignominious start in Miami, that’s a big if.

However, there are positive signs – this spring, Ginn quietly stopped dropping passes in the ladder half of off-season workouts.

It would be fitting to see the revival of the wide receiver in San Francisco, particularly since this season will begin with the Hall of Fame enshrinement of the best receiver ever, one Jerry Lee Rice.